Bohol 2024 . April 4 (Day 4)

Our flight back to Manila will be 4PM meaning we can go to the airport by 2PM.

During our drive on our Countryside tour to Chocolate Hills (day 2), we passed by a sign about whale shark and since I'm seated on the passenger side the driver, Rey mentioned it that they also have a whale shark watching and I'm so surprised. On this trip even when we are still in Palawan we came to a conversation on why they chose Palawan and what are the option that they have during planning this trip. They mentioned Cebu and since my sister went there already they tell what they did there like the canyoneering but they haven’t done the whale shark since you have to drive 4 hours to get to Oslob and for them driving that long is waste of time and I also thought that. I do plan to do that if ever we go to Cebu but that long drive? I'm not so sure. 

So when I realized that you can do it in Bohol, I'm already interested on it. I asked about the price, the time but I'm so worried because our days are already packed and the only window was early morning of our last day. Rey answered my question about the price, time and would you ever believe that the time for whale shark watching is just in the morning. I want to celebrate already because for sure they want to do it knowing that it will fit our schedule for our last day though there’s another catch, sometimes he said that there are no whale shark. Yikes. 

So right when they woke up from nap, I told them about the whale shark watching and I was so right that they are so game to do it. 

Right after we were dropped off on out first day of tour, I made sure that we are going to do the whale shark so Rey can already put us on his schedule. 

~ 

Days later here we are driving to the whale shark watching. Yay! 

I think we headed to Jollibee that morning so we can have breakfast on the go. From Alona beach I think it was an hour drive to the whale shark watching. 

I'm so excited and nervous to do this. 

When we get there, we paid fees and we went to briefing where they will remind you about stuff, you can also rent fins and of course, GoPro. We rented GoPro because it is a must and they will give you the SD card after too. 

Again here we go to the praise that our guide is good on taking photos and videos but dang same as before, they do stop it right before a good one. Smh 

Anyways, the whale shark watching is so near too that you can honestly swim and not take a tiny boat again but of course they can't risk batch of people to swim to the area.

We paddled to the area and we already saw one following a kayak that was feeding it. The whale sharks in there are not as big yet but wow. 

I can't wait to jump with fins and all because I don't want to be sea sick in here because the waves are crazy. 

OMG it was so pretty and huge! Huhu my heart is so happy. 

Once you are out there I believe you are allowed for 1 hour and that was one of the best 1 hour of my life. 

At first I let them have the GoPro so they can film the aunties and while they take care of the aunties, we swim away to see the other whale sharks. There are 3 in total by that time, one was following the kayak feeding it and 2 on the feeding area. I was somehow with Jen the whole time and we checked the feeding area and just taking in all the view and right in there too there was another one beneath us. Since we both did the scuba lesson we can now communicate underwater. Lol 

Thankful that with all the snorkeling we did at least during whale shark watching, I got a working snorkel because from Palawan to Bohol I always get a faulty one. Made me think to buy my own snorkeling set. 

If you search about whale shark watching in Cebu or even in Bohol you will just pretty much see the same thing but it is really different if you see it in person and just really enjoy it. Realizing that these creatures exist with us in this lifetime is crazy and to see them on the open sea is crazier. Mind blown. I just enjoyed every minute of is and of course before our times up, we have to have a good group picture / video since the aunties are done with it already and I'm not sure of they got a good photo with a whale shark because that one time that they supposed to have a good shot, I was blocking them. Haha I just realized while watching the videos that was taken. 

Mind blown and speechless. It was a pretty sight. 

On our way back to our villa we asked Rey any recommendation on where to eat lunch and he brought us to Susan’s Kilawin and I think it is a popular place for local and tourists too and since we get there before lunch time, we are the only customers. 

Right after our early lunch we headed back to our villa to clean up and pack. 

It was a little hard to pack because I bought some banana chips and I don’t have a check in baggage this time but since I’m a good packer all the souvenirs fit on my 2 bags. Yay. 

We checked out before 1PM and headed to the airport. Our flight is at 4PM so we just waited there and had some light snack. 

And that ends our Bohol trip which I believe we all fell in love with the place and we thinks that we can still do more.

I personally don’t mind going back because I still want to try scuba diving again and to be honest I’m so interested to learn free diving. I haven’t swim for so long and these trips with all the open water I want to swim again. Maybe begin with the pool then finally head back to the ocean. One day. 

We met family for dinner when we get back in Manila since my aunts and cousin will be flying back to Canada the next day. 

Thank you to the aunties for this trip and fortunately my cousin and her husband enjoyed it too and they are considering going back and that makes my aunt happy. Till next time! 

My Photographs: Bohol 

 

Bohol 2024 . April 3 (Day 3)

Too early for today but that’s okay and this island hopping that we are going to do is just a half day activity but I'm so looking forward to this. 

We were at McDonald’s by 5:30AM to have some breakfast because our tour doesn't include lunch since we should probably be done by then if everything went well. By 6AM we meet our guide who processed our papers and we also rented a GoPro because this time we are not taking it for granted. 

After maybe 30 minutes of waiting finally we are headed to our boat and our first stop is Dolphin watching. I even saw dolphins in Ocean Park in Hong Kong last year and I never thought of ever seeing dolphins in the wild because is it even possible? Yet here we are chasing dolphins in the wild. The sight is so funny because 10 or more boats with tourists including ours are all waiting for the appearance of dolphins it may be also a hit and miss. We are about to give up but then they appeared swimming together and you have to really look because the waves can trick you. After almost an hour of waiting we finally saw them and the boat captain don't want to further chase it like the other boats so we went to our next destination which is Balicasag Island where we will be doing our snorkeling with fishes and turtles. 

I'm surprised that we are going to do all of those in this one area. 

At first we were assigned a small boat and then we paddled to the area of the snorkeling which is pretty near that you can actually swim to that area if you are not so scared. Hehe Same little fishes and some big ones have different stripes and color. I'm not holding the rented GoPro in here but I really do wish I have a GoPro of my own to be able to capture what I saw from Palawan and to Bohol. After feeding the fishes with crackers, we are done and I’m not sure how will I be able to get back on the small boat but we did. Surprisingly just a few paddle to the left side that’s already the spot where you can see a turtle. The guide says that sometimes you can spot turtles on the fish area. I was with aunties at the other boat and just when our guide gave the clearance to swim then I did and right there on a shallow area right under me was a freaking turtle! I hurried to the other boat where I was shouting “GoPro!, GoPro!” Because I don't want to miss this already. I got a good 3 minutes shot and I'm so satisfied with it. 

The guide always tell that they are good taking photos and all but dang they keep on stopping the video every now and then. I believe it is because of the file size but they keep on stopping right there when there’s a good shot already. I’m just not so familiar with the new settings of the GoPro but before there’s a “video+photo” setting and that what I always use so no missing out on anything. It’s easy to delete a non-sense file than miss out the important ones. 

Thoughts on my mind right then was “dang, in Palawan it was so hard to look for the turtle but here it is just swimming right below in a shallow area”. Don't get me wrong I do know how this is a hit and miss since these creatures are in a wild and I do appreciate that they are being safely watched by the people in this island.

I almost got sea sick on the tiny boat because of the waves. 

~

Sadly behind all the tourist activity the island is also having problems with water and other basic needs. I don't know how Carlo and their guide led to conversation about their living situation in the island. We even asked about their situation during COVID when all along they depends on how many tourist will be there so they can sell the souvenirs they are making or on the tips that will be given by tourist. 

~

We can't somehow get hungry so we did early lunch on the island after snorkeling. We ordered before hand so our food will be ready once we are done. Here we go again with the mango shakes. Hehe 

After lunch we headed to the Virgin Island as they called it. It is a sand bar but it was high tide so no sandbar that is visible above the water but you can still walk on it.  

Right before that island would you ever believe that we saw I think 2 more turtles that was just catching a breath. So beautiful. 

After a few minutes on Virgin Island we head back to Alona beach and we went to Gerry’s Grill for some halo-halo. 

We’re back at the Villa and finally I can use the swimming pool! I've been wanting to swim in the pool since Palawan! Since I’m on a villa with my aunties I have time to swim while they shower but then they hangout with me too. Hehe 

Last agenda for the day, dinner. My sister was suggesting Mist and then I remembered seeing that somewhere too. They are game to try it and the place is amazing as well as the food. 

Goodnight! 

My Photographs: Bohol

 

Bohol 2024 . April 2 (Day 2)

                    

Our tour today is the Countryside which includes the very famous Chocolate Hills and Tarsiers. 

We started to travel to Chocolate Hills by almost 9AM since there was a mixed up with our driver that day. It still took us maybe 2 hours to get there but you will not feel it since the drive is mesmerizing with such view and be reminded with the simple life in the province. 

As per our driver, Rey we should start first on Chocolate Hills and since we are doing the ATV which will also take time so ATV first before lunch. 

ATV was so fun. I've been wanting to do it for so long and now that I've experienced it I want to do it more. I wish we can have unlimited time to stroll around Chocolate Hills but we are just allowed with 1 hour. At the other end of the ATV we climbed up one hill where you can take a picture with posing however you like but the tour guide are so good on taking pictures and videos already. Our guide said that it was just 160 steps to climb but man that was a challenge too because on how steep it gets. 

After the pictorial we had some fresh buko drinks and light snack while enjoying nature then we went back to where we come from. 

Our driver was supposed to still bring us to another view deck of the Chocolate Hills but since we took a long time during the ATV and all, we never went there already since we are still going to the Loboc Floating Restaurant for late lunch. He was driving so fast because we might missed the lunch since there was a cut off by 2:30PM. 

After Chocolate Hills we went to Man-made forest where we already passed by our drive earlier and man in was pretty. I didn't record a video but I just saw one of a dramatic falling of leaves and I regret not filming it something that you will just see on a movie scene. Man-made forest is so beautiful that I wish everyone will really save our mountains and trees most especially now. We just took some quick pictures in there then we quickly went to see the Tarsiers. Good thing the Tarsiers just took less than 30 minutes then we hit the road again to be at lunch before closing. Tarsiers are freaky somehow but also cute. Lol

We made it to our late lunch and probably almost the last batch before closing. On the receiving area where you will pay for the Loboc Floating Restaurant, there was a sign on where was the water level of one of the typhoon that passed by Bohol in 2021. (I just researched it and wow I never imagined that place being ransacked by a typhoon) 

Lunch was good not that great but okay but it will also depends on the batch of people you will go with on how they will interact with other guests overall all we all enjoy it and of course the view.

After lunch we went to XZOOTIC Animal Park and Butterfly Garden where I’m not sure why do they use the word “python” on tour because it is not very common here to have a snake interaction there are few but still I wonder. When we get there the first thing was the preserve snake named Samantha a Burmese Python who died in 2015. Maybe she was the popular one or the bigger before then I saw it, an area where all the Burmese Python are just free on that area of the park. I was overwhelmed that I didn't took any videos and just went to the two who are coiled together and the other one is on the process of shedding. There are at least 10 or 15 snakes that are scattered on the area and we are only people in that place already that I got to enjoy the view but only focuses on the few snakes. One just eaten and we probably just missed it a few hours and that one was the only one moving and most of the others are sleeping. While we are enjoying it we heard my aunt shouting that they don't want to see the snakes because they are afraid of it good thing there’s another way to get to the end of the park but there’s a crocodile that’s caged in but that is okay with them. Lol I'm so game not to go to the other attraction because I'm already satisfied to be just surrounded by snakes and my heart is so happy. There are some peacock and an owl too but I went back to check on the snakes again before going to the butterfly area but I don't want to leave!! Huhu 

Last on our tour was “Bohollywood” a place where there are some landmarks from several places. There’s the Eiffel Tower, Leaning Tower of Pisa, Golden Gate Bridge, The Merlion, Big Ben and some unfinished ones. It was okay it was good for photos and the place is still neat. There are description of each landmark but if you will ever get there please read and compare it to Wikipedia because it was clearly copy paste with hyperlinks. Haha we checked and it was so hilarious. 

The last one is at the souvenir shop yet again but this one where we went to they got everything from food to ref magnets and to clothes. 

On our drive back we asked of we can be dropped on the food place that's already near our villa which is Kun’s Stick and Bowl. We tried to eat there on our first night but it was full, good thing tonight we can be accommodated. 

That was our 2nd day in Bohol. Goodnight. 

My Photographs: Bohol 

Bohol 2024 . April 1 (Day 1)

Second destination for this vacation with family from Canada, Bohol.

I've never been to Bohol but my thinking is that if ever I will go with either Bohol or Cebu it should be together since it’s just 2 hours away from each island but with this short trip we’ll just be visiting Bohol. 

I always wanted to visit Bohol and I never knew that there were a lot more to do than just see the Chocolate Hills. 

Our flight for Bohol is at 2PM and we left the house by 11PM and we are already at the airport by 12nn. We don't have a check in baggage this time since we are just going to stay there for just 4 days 3 nights. The flight was okay and good thing it was somehow sunny since there are much more to see from the plane during that flight. 

We checked in right away when we arrived in there and I thought that our villa was somehow near the beach but I was wrong. Since I never searched about Palawan except the time Port Barton was mentioned. I told myself that I will do some research about Bohol but it was a fail so I became a tourist as well in Bohol. We booked via agency our tour so nothing to worry about and the whole stay is jam packed and our only free day was our first day. I wanted to swim as well when we arrived but we are still going out for dinner. 

We had dinner near Alona Beach which is the famous site for tourist. Thai food for dinner and bought some bread since we had nothing near our villa where we are staying. 

We stayed at Quest Villa. 

And that’s our first day. 

My Photographs: Bohol 2024

Palawan 2024 . March 28 (Day 7)

Last day already in Palawan!! Huhu 

Last day on breakfast buffet too and the pool is still closed. Lol 

Last day for them to hoard at the souvenir shops across the hotel. Lol 

I already packed and I just needed to take a bath and finished my packing. 

We check out by 12nn and city tour by 1PM which I wish we did just ate lunch already since our driver was late 

We went straight to Plaza Cuartel and Cathedral even without lunch and it was so hot that day too. Before going to our next destination we passed by Mcdonalds for a quick small lunch and supposed to be we are going to visit Crocodile Farm / PWRCC but since it was a holiday that day and it was under the government of course they are closed that day too. 

We went next to the Butterfly Garden and Tribal Village where there are also some other animals like the Binturong or a Bearcat which I'm very excited about then a Crocodile, a Scorpion and a small Fish Spa, some turtles and a Gecko. I'm just so happy with animals and once again my Brian B heart is happy. 

Surprisingly when we were at the Butterfly Garden, near their feeding plate instantly there are 2 butterflies landed on my left arm and the one flew after a few seconds but the other one probably stayed for a good minute and that hit me hard with some flashbacks and all. It was just something that maybe a sign that I've been waiting for. 

I held a scorpion in my hand and suddenly remembered Helena from Orphan Black. 

After that we went to our final destination which was Mitra’s and Baker’s Hill. 

There are few activities now at Mitra’s Rand and we did the Giant Slide that I thought we will be thrown out of the mountain. Then Baker’s which majority of it still doesn't change and it was good to see a lot of colorful peacock. 

Went back to the hotel after that for an early dinner and while waiting for our food, I went to Ver De to pick up Gem’s pasta sauce that she asked to be cooked there since she missed some comfort food. Hehe. So I quickly grabbed them then bought the last piece of Chocolate Chip cookies that I wish I was able to reserve some too but thankful for that last piece. Went back to the hotel had our dinner then headed to the airport. 

Our flight was still at 10PM and we are already at the airport by 7PM since my sister will be on an early flight and we are jsut going to meet in Manila. 

I finally read my current book most time flying back to Manila because you really can't see anything special in it except before landing in Manila.  

I messaged Gem to meet me at the airport that night because I don't have any other day to be free and since she’s just in Pasay she made time for her pasta sauce. Hehe. A quick hi and hello then bye to my dude and we went home. 

That concludes my Palawan trip with some family. 

Thank you Tita Vicky for the trip! 

My Photographs: Palawan 2024